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My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
    and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
for they will be a garland to grace your head,
    and chains around your neck.

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The Prologue: Embrace Wisdom

My son, hear the instruction of your father,
    and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
for they will be a garland of grace on your head,
    and chains about your neck.

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Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

Listen, my son,(A) to your father’s(B) instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(C)
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.(D)

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Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction.
    Pay attention and know understanding;
for I give you sound learning.
    Don’t forsake my law.
For I was a son to my father,
    tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
He taught me, and said to me:
    “Let your heart retain my words.
    Keep my commandments, and live.

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Wisdom Is Supreme

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,
    and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
For I was my father’s son,
    tender and the only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He also taught me and said to me,
    “Let your heart retain my words;
    keep my commandments, and live.

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Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)

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10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father;
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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The Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
    but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

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Proverbs of Solomon

10 The proverbs(A) of Solomon:(B)

A wise son brings joy to his father,(C)
    but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

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20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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20 A wise son makes a father glad,
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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20 A wise son brings joy to his father,(A)
    but a foolish man despises his mother.

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21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
    The father of a fool has no joy.

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21 He who fathers a fool does it to his sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.

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21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.(A)

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

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25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.(A)

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26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother
    is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
    is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

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26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(A)
    is a child who brings shame and disgrace.

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20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
    his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

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20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
    his lamp will be put out in obscure darkness.

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20 If someone curses their father or mother,(A)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(B)

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11 There is a generation that curses their father,
    and doesn’t bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,
    yet are not washed from their filthiness.

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11 There is a generation that curses their father,
    and does not bless its mother.
12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
    and yet is not washed from its filthiness.

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11 “There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers;(A)
12 those who are pure in their own eyes(B)
    and yet are not cleansed of their filth;(C)

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